Race, Masculinity & Stereotypes

Once ridiculed by the media for turning down an opportunity to go to Cambridge University, Franklyn Addo eloquently describes why the stereotype of the urban black male bothers him so much. He talks about how witnessing a murder left him traumatised and despondent, while acknowledging that bottling up emotions can be severely harmful. He questions the notions of masculinity that keep men bound to silence and encourages conversation on the subject.

“There’s so much more to talk about regarding council estates other than crime and anguish; more pertinent things, more celebratory things and more interesting things”